Norbert ‘Nobby’ Stiles, the legendary 1966 England World Cup-winning midfielder, tragically succumbed to a brain condition directly linked to repeatedly heading a football, a coroner has concluded in a recent inquest.

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The ruling follows a detailed examination of the life and career of the former Manchester United player, who passed away almost six years ago at the age of 78 due to severe dementia.

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Stockport Coroner’s Court heard that Nobby Stiles, as he was affectionately known, had headed a football an estimated 140,000 times throughout his illustrious career, spanning over 17 years. Expert analysis of his brain revealed that his severe dementia was caused by both Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition strongly linked to head trauma from heading a ball.

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Neuro-pathology expert Dr. Daniel Du Plessis, who conducted a thorough examination of Stiles’ brain tissue samples, told the court: ‘I’m quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE.’

The Impact of Heading a Football

When senior coroner for South Manchester, Alison Mutch, asked for clarification on Dr. Du Plessis’ statement, he unequivocally replied: ‘Yes, I’m saying that repeated heading of the ball is the cause of his CTE.’

The inquest also highlighted the significant impact of heading a football on a player’s brain health. Dr. Du Plessis explained that the repeated trauma caused by heading the ball can lead to long-term brain damage, including CTE.

Nobby Stiles’ son, John, who has been actively campaigning for greater support for former players suffering from injuries related to their playing days, reflected on his father’s character during the inquest. ‘My dad was very humble, he just happened to have achieved quite a lot. It never really changed him. If you went into his house, you would never know he was a footballer. He was very much a family man, football was left at the door. The family was always the first priority.’

John Stiles also shared his father’s experiences with heading a football, estimating that he had headed the ball around 40 times a day, five days a week, over a 17-year career. This calculation amounts to a staggering 136,000 headers in total. Furthermore, he highlighted that footballs during his father’s era weighed approximately 16 ounces (28g) and became significantly heavier when wet.

Stiles also emphasized the importance of understanding the risks associated with heading a football. ‘Studies indicate that heading even a contemporary ball is equivalent to about 80 per cent of the impact of a boxer’s punch,’ he explained. ‘To be honest with you, he was frightened,’ he added, referring to his father’s increasing anxiety and dread as his mental struggles intensified.

The Campaign for Greater Support

John Stiles now leads the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) group, advocating for greater action from football authorities for ex-players. He is among dozens of former footballers and their families currently suing the Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the English Football League, alleging negligence and a breach of their duty of care towards former players.

Lawyers representing the claimants argue that football bodies knew, or should have known, for decades that repeatedly heading a ball in training and matches was likely to cause brain injuries. However, in March this year, lawyers for the FA told the High Court that it has ‘not been established by science’ that heading a ball or ‘occasional’ concussion can lead to permanent brain damage.

The inquest into the death of former Scotland, Manchester United, and Leeds defender Gordon McQueen, who died aged 70, similarly concluded in January that heading the ball was ‘likely’ to have contributed to a brain injury that factored in his death. McQueen was also diagnosed with CTE.

A 2019 study, co-funded by the FA and the Professional Footballers’ Association, found that footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population. The FA is currently phasing out all heading in youth football up to under-11s by 2026.

Nobby Stiles’ death serves as a poignant reminder of the risks associated with heading a football and the need for greater support for former players. His legacy will continue to inspire and educate future generations about the importance of brain health and the need for action from football authorities.